Man charged in plot to detonate car bomb on military base for ISIL
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – A man has been charged in federal court with attempting to detonate a vehicle bomb at the Fort Riley military base in Kansas.
John T. Booker Jr., 20, of Topeka, Kansas, was charged with one count of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction, one count of attempting to damage property by means of an explosive and one count of attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization.
Booker was arrested near the military base on Friday as he completed his final preparations to detonate a vehicle bomb targeting U.S. military personnel stationed in Kansas.
“As alleged in the (criminal) complaint, John Booker attempted to attack U.S. military personnel on U.S. soil purportedly in the name of ISIL,” said Assistant Attorney General Carlin. “Thanks to the efforts of the law enforcement community, we were able to safely disrupt this threat to the brave men and women who serve our country.”
The complaint alleges Booker told another person “that detonating a suicide bomb is his number one aspiration because he couldn’t be captured, all evidence would be destroyed and he would be guaranteed to hit his target.”
Booker also identified Fort Riley as a good target, “because the post is famous and there are a lot of soldiers stationed there,” the complaint alleges.
If convicted, Booker could face a maximum penalty of life in prison.
For more coverage on this story, visit 24-Hour News 8’s sister station KSNT.
